An Emirates Airbus A380 flight, EK9, en route from Dubai to Gatwick, encountered a critical situation, leading to an emergency request for ground crews upon approaching Gatwick Airport. The aircraft, bearing the registration A6-EUN, deviated from its intended path, circled, and urgently called for ground support, including the Gatwick Airport Fire Service.

The colossal plane managed to safely land on the runway. The arrival of the aircraft was swiftly met by Gatwick ground units and the Fire Service, prepared to deal with any potential emergencies.

To ensure the safety of passengers and crew, the runway was temporarily closed for approximately 30 minutes as the aircraft underwent a thorough inspection and was subsequently towed off the runway.

While official statements are awaited, Sussex News has gathered unconfirmed reports suggesting a hydraulic issue and a failure in the Nose Wheel Steering system during the aircraft’s approach and landing. As a precautionary measure, it is believed that the crew of the aircraft made the decision to shut down the engines upon landing due to the hydraulic issue.

According to a spokesperson from London Gatwick, the Main Runway experienced a brief closure this evening in response to an emergency landing made by an Emirates A380 aircraft.

The spokesperson confirmed that the emergency landing was executed safely. However, due to a gear fault, the aircraft was unable to manoeuvre off the runway independently, necessitating the assistance of towing services.

The team at Gatwick Airport promptly initiated efforts to swiftly remove the aircraft from the runway, prioritising the restoration of normal operations as soon as possible.